Real-time inline digital tomosynthesis system

ABSTRACT

A real-time inline digital tomosynthesis system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a subject moving rail configured to move a subject in a preset direction and at a preset speed, a pair of an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector fixedly provided to face each other in a first direction of the subject moving rail, a subject position identifier configured to identify and notify a current position of the subject based on an image or a sensor, and an image reconstructor configured to obtain a plurality of X-ray images having different subject positions through the X-ray detector based on the current position of the subject, and then reconstruct and output the plurality of X-ray images as at least one of a tomographic image for each section and one three-dimensional (3D) image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119 of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2021-0061583, filed on May 12, 2021, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a real-time inline digitaltomosynthesis system applicable to an industrial inline environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

A digital tomosynthesis system (DTS) is a device that threedimensionally reconstructs an image by using projected image dataobtained from multiple angles within a limited angle.

That is, after an X-ray image for each shooting angle is obtained byfixing a subject immovably and moving an X-ray generator and an X-raydetector, the X-ray image is reconstructed to obtain tomographic imagesof a specific section of the subject, and then is reconstructed andoutput as one three-dimensional (3D) image.

However, although the DTS may obtain a 3D image at a high speed, it isdifficult to apply the DTS to an industrial inline environment becausethe X-ray generator and the X-ray detector should be moved.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the problems, there is provided a real-time inlinedigital tomosynthesis system capable of obtaining, in real time, athree-dimensional (3D) image for determining whether a subject isabnormal by using an inline method of moving the subject, instead of anX-ray generator and an X-ray detector.

There is also provided a real-time inline digital tomosynthesis systemcapable of easily increasing the number of X-ray generators and X-raydetectors.

Objectives of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and otherunmentioned objectives will be clearly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from thefollowing description.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a real-time inlinedigital tomosynthesis system includes: a subject moving rail configuredto move a subject in a preset direction and at a preset speed; a pair ofan X-ray generator and an X-ray detector fixedly provided to face eachother in a first direction of the subject moving rail; a subjectposition identifier configured to identify and notify a current positionof the subject based on an image or a sensor; and an image reconstructorconfigured to obtain a plurality of X-ray images having differentsubject positions through the X-ray detector based on the currentposition of the subject, and then reconstruct and output the pluralityof X-ray images as at least one of a tomographic image for each sectionand one three-dimensional (3D) image.

The real-time inline digital tomosynthesis system may further include atleast one pair of an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector fixedlyprovided to face each other in a direction different from the firstdirection of the subject moving rail, wherein, when a plurality of pairsof the X-ray generators and the X-ray detectors are provided,installation directions of the plurality of pairs of the X-raygenerators and the X-ray detectors are different from one another withrespect to the subject moving rail.

The real-time inline digital tomosynthesis system may further include atleast one pair of an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector fixedlyprovided to be adjacent to each other in a same direction as the firstdirection of the subject moving rail, wherein an image acquisition angleof a digital tomographic image is increased in proportion to a number ofpairs of the X-ray generators and the X-ray detectors.

The first direction of the subject moving rail may be any direction.

The subject position identifier may be configured to infer and notifythe current position of the subject based on a relative position valueof the subject in an X-ray image.

The subject position identifier may be configured to measure and notifythe current position of the subject, by using a distance sensor forsensing and notifying a distance between a starting point of the subjectmoving rail and the current subject.

The subject position identifier may be configured to measure and notifythe current position of the subject, by using a plurality of objectdetection sensors distributed at preset positions and configured tosense and notify the existence of the subject.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for describing a real-time inline digitaltomosynthesis system according to First Embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an X-ray image for each subject positionobtained according to First Embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view for describing a method of reconstructing an imageaccording to First Embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a view for describing a real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem according to Second Embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a view for describing a real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem according to Third Embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view for describing a real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem according to Fourth Embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description illustrates only a principle of the presentdisclosure. Therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art may implementthe principle of the present disclosure and invent various devicesincluded in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure although notclearly described or shown in the present specification. In addition, itis to be understood that all conditional terms and embodiments mentionedin the present specification are basically intended only to allow one ofordinary skill in the art to understand a concept of the presentdisclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments andstates particularly mentioned as such.

Further, it is to be understood that all detailed descriptionsmentioning a specific exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure aswell as principles, aspects, and exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure are intended to include structural and functionalequivalences thereof. Further, it is to be understood that theseequivalences include an equivalence that will be developed in the futureas well as an equivalence that is current well-known, that is, alldevices invented so as to perform the same function regardless of astructure.

Therefore, it is to be understood that, for example, a block diagram ofthe present specification shows an illustrative conceptual aspect forembodying a principle of the present disclosure. Similarly, it is to beunderstood that all flowcharts, state transition diagrams, pseudo-code,and the like, show various processes that may be tangibly embodied in acomputer-readable medium and that are executed by computers orprocessors regardless of whether or not the computers or the processorsare clearly shown.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for describing a real-time inline digitaltomosynthesis system according to First Embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates an outer appearance. FIG. 2 illustrates aconfiguration.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a digital tomosynthesis system of the presentdisclosure includes a subject moving rail 110, an X-ray generator 120,an X-ray detector 130, a subject position identifier 140, and an imagereconstructor 150.

The subject moving rail 110 is configured to provide a subject supportspace and move a subject 200 placed in the subject support space at acertain speed and in a certain direction.

The X-ray generator 120 is fixedly provided in a first direction (e.g.,vertical direction) of the subject moving rail 110, and is configured tocontinuously or repeatedly generate X-rays having the same irradiationangle.

The X-ray detector 130 is fixedly provided in the first direction of thesubject moving rail 110 to face the X-ray generator 120 with the subject200 therebetween, and is configured to continuously and repeatedlyobtain and output X-ray images having different subject positions.

The subject position identifier 140 may infer and notify a currentposition of a subject based on a relative position value of the subjectin an X-ray image.

Alternatively, a current position of a subject may be directly measuredand notified, by using a distance sensor configured to sense and notifya distance between a starting point of the subject moving rail 110 andthe current subject and a plurality of object detection sensorsdistributed at preset positions and configured to sense and notify theexistence of the subject. However, a specific implementation method isnot limited thereto.

The image reconstructor 150 obtains a plurality of X-ray images havingdifferent subject positions (i.e., X-ray images according to subjectpositions), by selectively receiving an output image of the X-raydetector 130 based on the current position of the subject identified bythe subject position identifier 140. The X-ray images according tosubject positions may be reconstructed into at least one of atomographic image for each section of the subject and onethree-dimensional (3D) image and may be output to a user.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an X-ray image for each subject positionobtained according to First Embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 3, according to the present disclosure, X-rayimages according to subject positions may be obtained by using a methodof moving a subject instead of an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector,and in this case, the X-ray images may have different X-ray shootingangles according to subject positions.

That is, even when a subject is moved, as shown in (b) of FIG. 3, thesame image characteristics as those of X-ray images according toshooting angles obtained by moving an X-ray generator and an X-raydetector may be achieved.

FIG. 4 is a view for describing a method of reconstructing an imageaccording to First Embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenienceof explanation, the following will be described assuming that images ofa subject are obtained at a total of 3 positions.

In operation S1, when image acquisition is requested in a state where asubject is placed on the subject moving rail 110, the subject movingrail 110 begins to move the subject in a preset direction and at apreset speed in response to the request.

The subject position identifier 140 identifies and notifies a currentposition of the subject in real time, and the image reconstructor 150repeatedly obtains X-ray images of the subject whenever the subject islocated at preset points 1, 2, 3. In this case, the X-ray images may beprojected image data for all voxels constituting the subject.

In operation S2, the X-ray images obtained at subject positions (i.e.,projected image data of the voxels) are summed to calculate entireoverlapped image data.

For the subject positions, three complementary overlapped image data arecalculated by summing the X-ray images excluding a specific section, adifference between the three complementary overlapped image data and theentire overlapped image data is calculated, and an image processingoperation for normalization may be repeatedly performed by dividing thedifference between the three complementary overlapped image data and theentire overlapped image data by 3 that is the total number of X-rayimages, to obtain a plurality of tomographic images respectivelycorresponding to a plurality of sections (i.e., tomographic imagesaccording to sections).

In operation S3, the tomographic images according to sections obtainedin operation S2 may be provided to a user, or the tomographic imagesaccording to sections may be sequentially stacked in the order ofsections to be synthesized into one 3D image, and then may be providedto the user.

FIG. 5 is a view for describing a real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem according to Second Embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the digital tomosynthesis system of the presentdisclosure, a plurality of pairs of the X-ray generators 120 and theX-ray detectors 130 may be provided, and then tomographic images ofdifferent sections may be obtained through the plurality of pairs of theX-ray generators 120 and the X-ray detectors 130.

For example, two pairs of the X-ray generators 120 and the X-raydetectors 130 may be provided, and a first X-ray generator 121 and afirst X-ray detector 131 may be provided to face each other in the firstdirection (e.g., vertical direction) of the subject moving rail 110 anda second X-ray generator 122 and a second X-ray detector 132 may beprovided to face each other in a second direction (e.g., horizontaldirection) perpendicular to the first direction of the subject movingrail 110.

In this case, tomographic images of an xy section may be obtained andprovided through the first X-ray generator 121 and the first X-raydetector 131 provided to face each other in the first direction of thesubject moving rail 110, and tomographic images of an xz section may beobtained and provided through the second X-ray generator 122 and thesecond X-ray detector 132 provided to face each other in the seconddirection of the subject moving rail 110.

That is, in the present disclosure, the number of the X-ray generators120 and X-ray detectors 130 which are used may be easily increased, andthus the number of sections (e.g., the xy section and the xz section)which may be detected through the X-ray generators 120 and the X-raydetectors 130 may also be easily increased. As a result, the type andamount of information that may be provided to a user through the samesystem may be increased.

FIG. 6 is a view for describing a real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem according to Third Embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in (a) through (c) of FIG. 6, in the digital tomosynthesissystem of the present disclosure, because a plurality of pairs of theX-ray generators 120 and the X-ray detectors 130 may be provided, andthe plurality of pairs of the X-ray generators 120 and the X-raydetectors 130 may be fixedly provided to be adjacent to one another inthe same direction, thereby increasing an image acquisition angle.

For example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 6, two pairs of the X-raygenerators 120 and the X-ray detectors 130 may be provided parallel tothe first direction (e.g., vertical direction) of the subject movingrail 110, and the first X-ray generator 121 may be inclined toward afront end of the subject moving rail 110 and the second X-ray generator122 may be inclined toward a rear end of the subject moving rail 110.

Also, as shown in (c) of FIG. 6, three pairs of the X-ray generators 120and the X-ray detectors 130 may be provided parallel to the firstdirection (e.g., vertical direction) of the subject moving rail 110, andthe first X-ray generator 121 may be inclined toward a front end of thesubject moving rail 110, the second X-ray generator 122 may be inclinedtoward a rear end of the subject moving rail 110, and a third X-raygenerator 123 may be inclined toward the rear end of the subject movingrail 110.

As a result, it is found that an image acquisition angle of the digitaltomosynthesis system is easily increased in proportion to the number ofpairs of the X-ray generators 120 and X-ray detectors 130 (A<B<C).

FIG. 7 is a view for describing a real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem according to Fourth Embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 7, in the digital tomosynthesis systemof the present disclosure, pairs of the X-ray generators 120 and theX-ray detectors 130 may be arranged in all directions.

For example, the X-ray generator 120 may be located over the subjectmoving rail 110 so that an X-ray of the X-ray generator 120 is emitteddownward, the X-ray generator 120 may be located under the subjectmoving rail 110 so that an X-ray of the X-ray generator 120 is emittedupward, or the X-ray generator 120 may be located on a side surface sothat an X-ray is emitted to a side.

While the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have beenshown and described, the present disclosure is not limited to thespecific embodiments described above, various modifications may be madeby one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosurepertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure asdefined by the claims, and these modifications should not beindividually understood from the technical feature or prospect of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A real-time inline digital tomosynthesis systemcomprising: a subject moving rail configured to move a subject in apreset direction and at a preset speed; a pair of an X-ray generator andan X-ray detector fixedly provided to face each other in a firstdirection of the subject moving rail; a subject position identifierconfigured to identify and notify a current position of the subjectbased on an image or a sensor; and an image reconstructor configured toobtain a plurality of X-ray images having different subject positionsthrough the X-ray detector based on the current position of the subject,and then reconstruct and output the plurality of X-ray images as atleast one of a tomographic image for each section and onethree-dimensional (3D) image.
 2. The real-time inline digitaltomosynthesis system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one pairof an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector fixedly provided to faceeach other in a direction different from the first direction of thesubject moving rail, wherein, when a plurality of pairs of the X-raygenerators and the X-ray detectors are provided, installation directionsof the plurality of pairs of the X-ray generators and the X-raydetectors are different from one another with respect to the subjectmoving rail.
 3. The real-time inline digital tomosynthesis system ofclaim 1, further comprising: at least one pair of an X-ray generator andan X-ray detector fixedly provided to be adjacent to each other in asame direction as the first direction of the subject moving rail,wherein an image acquisition angle of a digital tomographic image isincreased in proportion to a number of pairs of the X-ray generators andthe X-ray detectors.
 4. The real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem of claim 1, wherein the first direction of the subject movingrail is any direction.
 5. The real-time inline digital tomosynthesissystem of claim 1, wherein the subject position identifier is configuredto infer and notify the current position of the subject based on arelative position value of the subject in an X-ray image.
 6. Thereal-time inline digital tomosynthesis system of claim 1, wherein thesubject position identifier is configured to measure and notify thecurrent position of the subject, by using a distance sensor for sensingand notifying a distance between a starting point of the subject movingrail and the current subject.
 7. The real-time inline digitaltomosynthesis system of claim 1, wherein the subject position identifieris configured to measure and notify the current position of the subject,by using a plurality of object detection sensors distributed at presetpositions and configured to sense and notify the existence of thesubject.